10 Days in Hospital – a journaling game for one player
10 DAYS IN HOSPITAL
You will need:
1 standard 52-card deck. Remove Jokers, Kings,
Queens and Jacks but keep the Aces.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Think about how you want to keep your journal:
(hand)written, audio tracks, daily video clips or
maybe a mixture of all these formats?
A quick word about safety tools
Even when playing alone you should play with safety
tools.
Be aware that amongst the themes of this game are
situations in which you might feel physically and/or
mentally helpless and dealing with pain.
Some tips before you start playing:
Think about how you feel and if you are in the right
mood for this kind of game. If you feel like it might
distress you - don't play it.
Clarify Lines & Veils for yourself.
And, most importantly, if you feel at any point that the
game upsets you too much – STOP. Immediately. Put
down the gaming materials and take a step back from
the game. Take all the time you need before continue
playing. Your personal well-being is more important
than the game.
I highly recommend reading up on safety tools if you are
not familiar with the concept or want to learn more
about it. A good start is the great TTRPG Safety Toolkit
by Kienna Shaw and Lauren Bryant-Monk, which won an
ENnie Award in 2020 for best free product.
Written by Tim Rauche (he/him, twitter: @nurdertim | itch: nurdertim.itch.io)
PLAYING THE GAME
After a medical examination you've been referred to a
hospital for an operation. You will need to stay there
for a few days.
How do you feel about going to hospital?
Who do you talk to about this situation?
Right before the surgery you had to answer a lot of
questions and you've been told about the risks of the
operation. Afterwards you're brought to a room
where you are prepared for anesthesia.
A mask is placed on your face. It provides you with
oxygen, which you have to breathe in. Next you inhale
the anesthetic.
And then ...
... you wake up.
There are cables and tubes attached to your body.
Shuffle the deck and draw one card for each day.
Describe your day and how you feel according to its
colour. The themes are the following:
Diamonds : Loneliness
Hearts : Visitor(s)
Spades : Pain
Clubs : Nursing staff / doctors
A higher number indicates a more intensive
experience, an Ace an emergency or very dramatic
occurence.
Optional: interpret even numbers as something
positive and odd numbers as negative happenings.
Bear the following in mind:
• medicine may have an impact on how you
experience emotions, your body or your
surroundings
• your mobility may be limited after the
operation
• you might share your room with other
patients, how do you get along with them?
• the daily routine in hospital, e.g. regarding
mealtimes, might differ from your own
ENDING THE GAME
After 10 days/cards you are released from hospital.
Being in there has changed you. Describe a final
thought based on the highest card you have drawn.
Red: How did the time in hospital change the
perception of your own body?
Black: Which aspect of your stay, positive or negative,
will stay with you?
Draw: What is the first thing you want to do once you
are back home?
10 Days in Hospital is inspired Andrew Millars "Route
Clearance" and my own experiences after I needed to
undergo an emergency operation.
Special thanks to Phillip and Lena and the doctors
who kept me alive.